I’m so happy other readers put this book on my radar and told me it would be a read for me. I’m usually careful with choosing to read a hyped book, which I definitely think is the case here, but I have to agree that yes, it really is an outstanding novel. I was a bit surprised too that it was an ’emotionally chilling’ psychological thriller and that it turned out to be such a page-turner that I read it in two days.

We meet Geo – short for Georgina – in the present, while she’s standing trial, testifying against Angela’s murderer. The harsh truth is that Geo kept her mouth shut for fourteen years about what she knew had happened to her friend. Of course I felt like she got everything she deserves, the crime is obvious, she lied to her friend’s parents, she let them hope for news about their daughter, and let everyone search for Angela for fourteen long years and yet… it’s not that simple. Through snippets in the present and the past I really got to know Geo and both in present and past she seems like a good person. Her friendship with her best friend Angela was sincere and in the present she honestly cares for her friend Cat, so where did this go wrong, how could she do this?

The story and Geo’s character really grabbed me from the get go. The revelations and events leading up to her murder were dark and gritty and it also calls for trigger warnings. That sense of foreboding keeps growing stronger and while you know Angela’s body was found, I simply couldn’t imagine it would actually be happening or why as Angela was such a bubbly person.

Calvin James is bad news, that’s pretty obvious, he’s someone that I would take a big detour for so why is she still protecting him now by not telling the police he’s been trying to contact her? Dead bodies are piling up again and still she doesn’t say anything. I couldn’t fathom a logical explanation for this at all. No matter how hard I sympathised with her, I felt she was so wrong here and couldn’t redeem her choice.

Hillier made Geo a very likeable character with quite a tragic backstory, one that forgives her for some stupid choices she made, but is it enough to keep forgiving her for what she’s doing in the present? I was wondering how far she was going to push it.

I really liked the entire novel but my favorite part was close to the end where there was a fantastic twist and even when I figured it out right the moment before the lid was blown off, Jennifer Hillier kept the twists coming and wrong-footed me completely with how this would end. It became even more thought-provoking when looking at the choices she made and deciding for myself if Geo’s a good or a bad person. Obviously she’s a bit of both but maybe everybody will lean more toward one side or another. 4.5 well-deserved stars that I’m rounding up for Goodreads and Amazon.

What a lovely book, it was a demanding read from the very start. The story is all about three 16 year olds Geo Kai and Angela and the story evolves as the years go by. I adored it. I would only have one minor criticism and that is that the last few pages ended the story but did not fully give closure as the result of the final actions was ignored. I would add that despite this comment I will still read more of this author as I enjoyed the pace throughout.

I read the synopsis for Jar of Hearts and had an instant 'Ooh, I need to read that' moment. Was I disappointed? No, my fellow book lovers, I was not.

Fast paced and incredibly intense, dark, suspense filled and exciting, this psychological thriller offers everything that you could want from the genre.

The majority of the story is told from Georgia's perspective but this a the dual POV with Kaisers thoughts also included.

The plot is so well written, it changes perspectives and sometimes this can make you feel dizzy, this was not the case with Jar of Hearts . The transitions are smoothly done.

The character development is fabulous, I loved the pacing. (Regular readers of my blog will know how important pacing is for me)

Sometimes we read a book and identify with the characters. I did not identify with the characters but this is no problem here as the characters are so interesting.

This has been a  hard review to write as I do not want to reveal anything that I think you would enjoy reading first hand. Not spoilers, but the regular 'Hold your breath' moments that occur.

This psychological thriller will keep you turning pages long after bed-time and even though you may work out some aspects, there are others that will side swipe you and the ending was surprising (For me, this genre needs to be surprising and if it is obvious then the book fails in it's ultimate objective)

There is plenty of information in the synopsis to tell you if this is the book for you, all I will say is that this book is better than the synopsis suggests and I was gripped by just the synopsis.

Well I hope that you have enjoyed my review that was intentionally vague about the story but rich in the necessary information.

I was given an arc copy of this book by Atlantic Books and NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This book drew me in from the very first page, my only regret was that I couldn't read the whole book in one sitting, there were teasers all the way through making me wonder what's going to happen next or what does that refer to. It's a dark story about the effects of control, obsessive love and how it can bring out the very worst in people, how evil actions can be triggered by environmental conditions as well as being genetic. I found myself at the halfway point sitting with this book, not reading but trying to figure out various possible scenarios, that's how much it consumes you. Loved the suspense, the psychologically thrilling aspect, the secrets and the lies. Loved this book and will definitely be reading previous books written by this author.
NetGalley kindly sent me a copy of this book for review in return for an honest appraisal.
#JarOfHearts #NetGalley

JAR OF HEARTS is a dark, suspenseful, and scary thriller and I loved every page of it. There are scenes that are disturbing, there is gratuitous violence and abuse, but the plot is so gripping and so well-written that I couldn’t put it down. It’s a story of young love, obsession, jealousy, and secrets with a final twist that you really don’t see it coming.

The characters are dark, not completely likable, and complex, especially the protagonist, Georgina “Geo” Shaw. She grew up without a mother, who died when she was little, and her father, a doctor, worked long hours, so she was often left on her own. Despite this, she was a nice and good girl with high grades at school and never getting into trouble and spending her time with her two best friends, Angela and Kaiser. But then she met Calvin James and things changed. Throughout the story, she dances on the line between good and bad and it’s hard to figure out how much she is innocent and how much she is guilty.

Georgina’s story is sometimes interrupted by Kaiser’s story. He has been in love with Georgina his whole life, but she always thought of him as a friend. He is the detective who arrested Calvin and Georgina for Angela’s murder, and now he is also the detective leading the search for Calvin after he escapes from prison. As the murders start again, Kaiser struggles between his duty to his job and his personal feelings for Georgina.

JAR OF HEARTS is a fast-paced, compelling, and completely addictive novel. This is my first Jennifer Hillier’s novel but I really liked her prose and I was drawn to her characters and their stories and I am definitely going to read more from this author. I’d like to thank Corvus for providing me with an early copy of this gripping thriller.

When I came across this book many months ago and read the synopsis online I knew immediately that it was going to be a good 'un! Then when it landed on NetGalley I got incredibly excited before realising I hadn't even requested it yet! Boy, was I correct. This completely blew my mind!

I sort of feel as though this has gone under the radar and it really should get the attention it deserves because it's such a worthy five-star read. One of my favourite reading experiences of 2018 so far - it'll be on my end-of-year list, I am positive about that. If you enjoy thrillers this is one book you don't want to miss. It will resonate particularly with those who appreciate a fantastic psychological thriller and an intelligent non-throwaway plot. From the beginning the story gets progressively more sick and twisted and the more that happened the deeper invested in it I was. Main character Geo is not very likeable but I feel this added to the story as a whole and I am not one that has to have a likeable character/characters to keep my interest. In fact, I'd say that I find books more engrossing when they heavily centre around a person who is not that nice.

This was an awesome read and I appreciated it even more because it came at a time when I had experienced a run on not-so-great titles that almost thrust me full-force into a dreaded slump! I know many friends who have read and enjoyed this as much as I did and i'm sure there are people out there yet to try it but it is well worth devoting your time to. If you like the sound of it then give it a go, I can't imagine any crime buffs finding it disappointing,

Many thanks to Atlantic Books/Corvus for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

For the first few chapters, I wasn’t entirely sure about this book. But, for some reason, as the book for more twisted and dark and sickening, it drew me in and I just had to keep reading to see who was behind the awful murders happening in Sweetbay. However, there were times near the end where I did wonder if I could continue reading...but I did! I just had to know if the murderer would get their comeuppance!

The main character of Geo (Georgina) is not one I liked at first, which is another reason I wasn’t sure about the book when I first started it. She later grew on me but then as certain flashback chapters appeared later on in the book, I then became confused about whether I liked her or not.

The author has got a great style of writing and drawing readers in, keeping them engaged...though had a wild imagination!

Jar of Hearts is a dark psychological thriller ,so gripping it was hard to put down .It is the story of a murder ,a cover up and years later bodies being found seemingly the work of the original killer .The book was very cleverly written and it was a joy to read .The story is told in the present and the past .I am afraid I didn't like Geo at all and for me the horrific ending seemed rushed and left many questions unanswered .
Many thanks to the Publishers ,the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

This was a book I couldn't put down as it was so well written and fast moving that my attention was captured and held throughout.
The story flicks between different times of the main character, Geo's life, and shows how one bad decision early on can affect your life forever. Geo at 16 is a cheerleader who falls for 21 years old Calvin, much to the despair of her friends Angela and Kaiser.
When Angela suddenly disappears everyone is confused as to why but 14 years later when both Calvin and Geo are arrested the truth begins to surface. The story follows Geo through her life but keeps returning to that time when Angela disappeared, gradually sharing what really happened that night. When Geo is released from prison Kaiser begins to re-establish his friendship with her and reveals the true feelings he had for her as a boy, and still has. With Calvin established as a serial killer everything begins to fall into place. But does it? This is where the author shows her skills as we are led along a path that begins to fork in different directions with a dramatic and unexpected conclusion. Get ready for a roller coaster ride in a book you won't want to end!

3.5 stars!

I will start of by saying this is a very dark, mature, gruesome read and trigger warnings for rape throughout.

The story starts with geo being given a prison sentence as her best friend from her teenage years has been found dismembered in the land near her home. Georgina known as Geos boyfriend Calvin is the killer and also responsible for the deaths of other women since then. Whilst geo is in prison murders begin to happen once again and police suspect that once again it is the work of Calvin but the big question is could someone else be involved?

Now onto what I enjoyed about this book, I thought it was pretty fast paced and the writing was pretty good and so was the storyline until it got around half way by then I knew what was happening.without giving to much away what I didn't like is how unrealistic it was,the police could not be that dumb given Calvins mo they should have known so much by that,I will leave that part there. One of Calvins children, the little girl when her mother said she had anger issues but yet she had adhd I didn't think that was really right,so just because she was the child of a murderer that explained her anger issues? No she was just a child. Geo was someone I didn't like and I wish she would have been punished further for what she did.

Will I read more by this author? Yes I'd like to give another book a go and see what I think of it.

Geo and her first love have a terrible secret. They are bonded by love and blood.
This secret has been hidden for fourteen years. This is the day that she is finally arrested. Now she can tell the whole truth or can she? It is revealed that the one she loved so many years ago is a serial killer, and the bodies begin to pile up as he moves ever closer to the one he wants.
The story is very emotional and we'll written. I could not put it down. Geo had so many secrets and the ending was a shock, definitely not what I was expecting.
This is a love story from the Dark side. I loved it.
I would like to thank the author Jennifer Hillier, Atlantic Books and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for a free e-arc copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In high school 16 year olds Geo, Angela, and Kaiser are best friends then suddenly Angela disappears without any clue as to what happened to her. Fourteen years later Kaiser, now a police officer, is still searching for the truth and when her remains are found near Geo's childhood home things start becoming clear.

I really enjoyed this book and how it starts in the middle rather than at the beginning so you have to learn what has happened over the course of the book rather than at the beginning so you can't jump to conclusions. With this is mind, I also enjoy how the story is told in the from of present Geo and 16 year old Geo.

It deals with the harsh reality of prison, how you need to be cold to survive and how hard it is to readjust to society on release. This book also looks at the stigma attached to a crime so cold and brutal regardless of the part you played in it and how people will jump to conclusions.

This is a gripping psychological novel that will keep you hooked from the beginning, and not wanting to put it down. There are so many twists and turns in this novel that you won't know what to think.

I highly recommend this book. A strong 4.5 stars from me.

Really enjoyed this book as you want to hate characters but can't and then there is a beautiful twist thrown in towards the end!

Wow - first one of this author's books i had read and can't wait to read more.
Geo was sixteen when her best friend was murdered and in her late twenties when she was arrested for her murder. It bought her perfect, respectful world down around her. However, she hadn't carried it out alone and they were both sent to prison. She served her sentence and he escaped. Now, there are copycat murders and no-one is safe Is he coming to get her?

Wow! what a thriller! I found this book riveting and could not put it down. I wish I could write a book that tells such a story. It encompasses a wide range of settings and builds up the drama to a climax. Well done, definitely recommended and I look forward to more books by this author. Thank you.

Ooo, this was deliciously dark and a crazy kind of twisted! Kept me guessing pretty much right til just before the actual reveal, when I suddenly got that "aha" moment!
We start in the middle of our timeline with a trial. Calvin James is convicted of being the Sweetbay Strangler. Responsible for the deaths of three women and also, more importantly for our story, the death of Angela Wong. Georgina Shaw is also a key part of that trial as she played a part in Angela's death, plea bargaining her testimony for a lighter sentence. We then go, alternately back and forward in time, back to when our three main characters were 16 and forward to the present day. Back at school, Angela is that popular kid that everyone wants to either be or be with. She is pretty, and she knows it! Best friend Georgina, better known as Geo, is a wee bit jealous of her but they pretty much rub along well. Making up the trio is Kaiser Brody who is a bit (lot) in love (lust) with Geo. We witness the day that Geo first met Calvin and, eventually, as the story progresses, see the events leading up to that fateful night when Angela went missing. Returning to the present and Kaiser is now a cop, actually the one that arrested Geo five years previously, and, just before Geo's release, he and his team make a gruesome discovery. Fresh bodies of dismembered women are found, but this time along with small children. There's also a message attached to each child. Could Calvin have come back? Kaiser has been on his trail ever since he escaped prison many years since. As our story gets darker and more convoluted, can Kaiser cut through all the secrets and lies and figure out what exactly is going on once and for all?
I simply drank in every single word of this book, desperate to get to the end but, at the same time, not wanting to miss a thing. There was so much going on in this book. So many subtle hints and clues. Some deliciously misleading, others more matter-of-fact. Some I picked up on, others I kicked myself for missing. But that's the thing, this book is jam packed full of deception. Of secrets, lies and more than a bit of duplicitous behaviour. I mean, Geo kept her secret for 14 years!
The way the author drip-fed information in was timed to perfection. All the way through, there was this undertone that shouted out that all was not as it seemed and, every so often, she slipped another part of the backstory in to peel back just one more layer until, eventually, at the very end, the whole truth was revealed. This kept me both a bit confused but, at the same, time intrigued and yearning for more. I really needed to know!
The two main characters, Geo and Kaiser, were so well created. I connected with both of them from the off, even knowing what I did about then at the time when we met. They are both very complex but came across to be completely credible. Even knowing what she did, I couldn't help feeling for Geo as she served her time. Flitting between despising her and admiring her was quite tiring at times. I'd love to qualify that more but spoilers prevent me. Kaiser was pretty wounded throughout, never quite having got over what happened and the unrequited nature of his first love.
It's a story of love, lust and infatuation. Of family and secrets. Of dark things in the past that eventually, as they all do, come to light. It's quite graphic at times and does feature some very hard hitting content that some may find disturbing. But all speaking to plot and story, never included for shock tactics. But also, to redress the balance, there are some really brilliantly woven in more tender moments. Some that really did tug at my heartstrings.
It's a story that sucked me in from the start, wholly and completely. I had only panned on reading a bit before going out for the afternoon but it pretty soon became obvious that I was going nowhere until I finished it. It was a very emotional read for me which left me both satisfied and, at the same time, completely spent. The ultimate ending did jar me a little at the time of reading but, as I have done with other books, I sat with it for a while and now, thinking back, maybe it's as it should be. I'm not completely comfortable with everything but I'm willing to accept it.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

At times a very difficult read, hard to like the main character but the author does a good job of explaining the teenage insecurities and abusive relationships.
Lots of twists with one final big one.

Suspenseful, riveting, often heartbreaking. One which lurked in the background of my mind whenever I had to put it down to do other things. This multiple character viewpoint novel kept surprising me up until the last few chapters.

Jar of Hearts starts with what would normally be a satisfying ending to a crime story: a woman who was an accessory to murder and dismemberment of her once best friend is imprisoned. That woman is Geo, a successful thirty-something, at the height of her corporate career and on the threshold of her nuptials to an equally rich and successful man. As a result of her arrest, her life falls apart and she loses most of what she has achieved so far. Yet, she is a callous and clever operator and survives prison with flying colours, building alliances with powerful criminals and using her body to win favours with prison guards. When she is released she goes back to live in the relative comfort of her surgeon father's house. This is why I was unable to warm up to her. I didn't like her at the start of the novel and neither did I get to like her towards the end. I felt no empathy with her, even more so because I was expected to understand her in the end. I may have understood but I still didn't feel there were any redeeming features to her, any meaningful atonement.
Equally, I was unable to read her ex-boyfriend responsible for the killing of her friend: I couldn't fathom why he was the way he was, what drove him to become a violent man, rapist and murderer. There was no background to him - he was just the chief-baddie until such time when even greater evil took the spotlight. Then he simply became dispensable.
The third protagonist, Kai, was perhaps the most sympathetic of the lot, but I found him a bit juvenile; he didn't grow or develop for me, remaining for ever sixteen and with a boyish crush on Geo.
So the main characters didn't work for me. A couple of minor characters were however well drawn and realistic, like Cat.
I also loved the prose and the pace.
The writing in Jar of Hearts is smooth and fast, composed, factual, to the point. Not a single word is wasted. The story is plotted with precision. It moves forward briskly and takes the reader on a ride. It isn't so much thrilling or suspenseful as it is revealing, like reading someone's secret diary.

It has been a while since I have read a thriller and I approached this with caution. However it wasn't long before my initial fears were calmed and in fact I was surprised by how voraciously I read this book.

Very quickly into this novel l found myself asking, what exactly is Geo guilty of? Is Calvin James the true murderer? Is Kaiser Brody as innocent as he makes out?

These were just some of the questions I asked as I made my way through this novel. Be assured though that these and many more, that appear in the telling of this tale, are answered in the fullness of time.

As with most thrillers the reader tries 'to solve' the case and some parts are fairly predictable and solvable.

However, I found that I was still able to be surprised by some aspects leading to the final outcome.

The story is woven so superbly that you can easily picture the scenes as they are unfolded.
I enjoyed that, in parts, the story of the past was entwined with that of the present day leading you to a fuller understanding of exactly what happened to the people in Geo's life around time of Angela Wong's murder.
You will not be disappointed in what you find out!

Jennifer Hillier is a new author for me and I'm really thankful to her for rekindling my formerly lost love of thrillers. I'll certainly be adding her others works to my tbr list!!